Preview — Still Life with Crows
by Douglas Preston

A small Kansas town has turned into a killing ground. Is it a serial killer, a man with the need to destroy? Or is it a darker force, a curse upon the land? Amid golden cornfields, FBI Special Agent Pendergast discovers evil in the blood of America's heartland.

This answer contains spoilers…
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It is not the vault combination, it is the number for a bank account in the Caiman Isle, provided by his hacker friend Mime.It is said in the next…more
It is not the vault combination, it is the number for a bank account in the Caiman Isle, provided by his hacker friend Mime.It is said in the next chapter once Pendergast exit the office with the plans/maps.(less)(hide spoiler)]

Community Reviews

Food metaphors have been the order of the day (pun intended) thus far in reviewing Messrs. Preston and Child’s Pendergast series (hot dog, anyone?), and so I’m compelled to continue that tradition, because if I don’t, I have absolutely no framing device for this review. For a Kansas-set book that takes place amidst acres and acres of oppressive and unrelenting corn fields, there could be no other choice (well, there are some other thematically appropriate foods I could select based on the pCorn.

Food metaphors have been the order of the day (pun intended) thus far in reviewing Messrs. Preston and Child’s Pendergast series (hot dog, anyone?), and so I’m compelled to continue that tradition, because if I don’t, I have absolutely no framing device for this review. For a Kansas-set book that takes place amidst acres and acres of oppressive and unrelenting corn fields, there could be no other choice (well, there are some other thematically appropriate foods I could select based on the plot, some of which involve boiling and sugaring, but they are considerably more unsavory, and I don’t want to offend those with delicate stomachs and/or those who have an aversion to the consumption of human flesh (philistines)).

Think of corn at its best—corn on the cob in the peak of summer, sweet and succulent, cooked, buttered, and salted to perfection—and you’ve got the best parts of Still Life with Crows: a stormy and Midwestern Gothic atmosphere, a taut and tense hunt for a particularly creepy killer, Pendergast doing Pendergastian things, and a supporting cast that feels more three-dimensional (or, at least two-dimensional) than most thrillers.

Think of corn at its worst—the overcooked, off-season stuff you got in your elementary cafeteria, or maybe creamed corn (I’m perfectly capable of masticating my own food, thank you very much, and don’t need someone to do it for me, regurgitate it into a tin can, and dump some poor facsimile of actual cream over the top of it to try to make it palatable)—and you’ve got the less stellar elements of the book: the occasional one-dimensional character, a killer whose abilities take far too much advantage of a reader’s freely given willing suspension of disbelief, and so…much…CORN.

Most of the book, though, is somewhere in the middle—think popcorn at the movie theatre, slathered in glowing orange butter-flavored nuclear waste faux food product: delicious, addictive, but maybe not as salubrious as would be optimal. Compared to its predecessors in the series, Crows lacks the same atmospheric ambiance (the corn fields of Kansas make for a much less interesting place to contemplate shady doings than a massive museum or a freakish cabinet of curiosities), breadth of danger (a few random killings in the midst of a lightly populated rural town doesn’t create the same sense of tension as serial killings in the middle of a thriving metropolis), and familiar cast of supporting characters (wither now, Bill Smithback?). But, I wholeheartedly applaud the authors for trying something different and finding a way to leverage their interest in and knowledge of Native American history (on display in Thunderhead as well) in the service of what is, on balance, an entertaining (and wonderfully macabre) yarn that features some truly pulse-pounding moments.

I’d probably rank this as my least favorite of the first four Pendergast books, but it was more than sufficiently entertaining to keep me going, so it’ll be onto the next book sometime later this year.

On the back of my edition of 'Still Life With Crows' there is a blurb that states: These guys are masters at scaring the hell out of people. Turns out... they actually are.

In this case, it was certainly true. I'd been reading a slew of horror and suspense novels, and this one was certainly one of the scariest. Some other reviewers weren't too fond of the setting, but I loved it. I've always enjoyed 'Small Town Horror' settings. No, this isn't quite the same thing as 'Salem's LotRevisited Review

On the back of my edition of 'Still Life With Crows' there is a blurb that states: These guys are masters at scaring the hell out of people. Turns out... they actually are.

In this case, it was certainly true. I'd been reading a slew of horror and suspense novels, and this one was certainly one of the scariest. Some other reviewers weren't too fond of the setting, but I loved it. I've always enjoyed 'Small Town Horror' settings. No, this isn't quite the same thing as 'Salem's Lot or Ghost Story, but neither does it pretend to be.

Agent Pendergast, the protagonist, has been around a while, so not too much page space is spent on fleshing out his character. While this book can certainly be read as a stand-alone novel, it is part of a series and it would only be fair to approach it with that fact in mind.

I found it a gripping read. It is extremely atmospheric and contains some of the creepiest corn field scenes you're ever likely to read. Is there such a thing as Terror Fiction? This would fit the bill quite nicely.

So, if you like hackle raising goodness that races along at breakneck speed through a dazzling twist or two, you'll likely enjoy this novel as much as I did. It's got corn fields, for crying out loud, what's not to like!?

3.5 stars. Pendergast is a great character! This series can be pretty creepy actually and this one was no exception. The books make a good occasional read for when I've overdosed on one type of book (usually fantasy in my case)! These books are always suspenseful, not too demanding but also not too predictable.

I love several books in the Pendergast series. But, I think Still Lif with Crows is my personal favorite. It has an interesting and engrossing plot and best of it all we are introduced to Corrie Swanson, who besides Pendergast is my favorite character in the series!

You can smell the farmland and hear the Kansas winds rustling through fields of corn as the erudite FBI agent with a touch of the supernatural about him, Pendergast, brings to the heartland his dark suit, 1959 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith, and seemingly endless knowledge of the strange and otherworldly.

Squeezed between The Cabinet of Curiosities and Brimstone, two of the best in the series, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child created another terrific novel that is part mystery, part thriller, and parYou can smell the farmland and hear the Kansas winds rustling through fields of corn as the erudite FBI agent with a touch of the supernatural about him, Pendergast, brings to the heartland his dark suit, 1959 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith, and seemingly endless knowledge of the strange and otherworldly.

Squeezed between The Cabinet of Curiosities and Brimstone, two of the best in the series, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child created another terrific novel that is part mystery, part thriller, and part horror story. Other than Relic/Reliquary and Dance of Death/Book of the Dead, which are best read in conjunction with each other, the series can basically be read as stand-alone novels. Readers who had, however, been following this intriguing series since the first one, had very high expectations because of the prior efforts. Fortunately those expectations are met in Still Life With Crows.

Pendergast is solo this time out, with only allusions to Wren, an ill-gotten inheritance, and his urgent need to return to New York connecting in any way to the incredible amount of history readers of the series know so well. Though I recommend reading from the beginning, Still Life With Crows makes an adequate introduction to the series because the focus here is mainly on Pendergast himself, who you need to know the most about to "get" the series.

Pendergast shows up in Kansas shortly after a ritual killing in a cornfield, and immediately we are immersed in a story as gripping as it is enjoyable. Though on vacation, Pendergast unofficially looks into a case with supernatural aspects dating back to a Cheyenne massacre by "ghost warriors" in the late nineteenth century. Immediately at odds with Sheriff Hazen, Pendergast investigates in his own unorthodox style -- which includes something akin to remote viewing -- as things become evermore gruesome on the Plains.

A new type of corn for which the town is competing in an effort to remain alive, and a serial killer unlike any Pendergast has encountered create urgency and tension. Humor abounds as well; albeit dark at times, but hilarious nonetheless. Pendergast enlists a blue-haired outcast named Corrie as his secretary. Scenes of her driving Pendergast around in her beat up Gremlin bring a smile to the reader's face. A deadly chase through caverns goes terribly wrong and gruesomely bloody, leading to an exciting and horrific conclusion. Like all the entries in this incredibly entertaining series, it is obvious some of the relationships will linger and spill over into other books.

Atmospheric, exciting, horrific, and with more character-driven humor than readers of a novel about dark and horrific crimes in America's heartland have any right to expect, this is a great read, and can be enjoyed even if you have not read any prior entries. However, this recommendation comes with a caveat. Still Life With Crows is a very unusual entry in the series (up to this point) in that all the characters readers had come to love, from Margo to D'Agosta, are nowhere to be found. Usually, at least a couple of the main planets orbiting the world of Pendergast are involved in the enthralling stories, if not all.

While I enjoyed this one a great deal, this eventually became the norm for the series and I stopped reading it. Unlike many, who complained about keeping track of so many characters and divergent things going on, this was one of the aspects I liked best about the series. As the cast was trimmed, possibly to accommodate those readers -- and probably make the books less involved to write -- some characters seemed to disappear into the woodwork, others only occasionally making a cameo appearance. The series eventually lost some of that which I loved about it. There are several books before this happens, however, and I highly recommend this one. The final scene will remind readers with a knowledge of such things, of a pulp story of weird menace. A great read!...more

I'm in love - this book has now pushed itself to the top of the line of the first four novels from the talented team of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.

Pendergast actually leaves New York and travels to a small, dying town that's covered in cornfields and old Indian Legend. When the dust settles, it's clear they have a demented killer at hand. At first the sheriff blames an outsider, but it soon become apparent it's someone nearer to them than that...the only"Because truth is the safest lie."

I'm in love - this book has now pushed itself to the top of the line of the first four novels from the talented team of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.

Pendergast actually leaves New York and travels to a small, dying town that's covered in cornfields and old Indian Legend. When the dust settles, it's clear they have a demented killer at hand. At first the sheriff blames an outsider, but it soon become apparent it's someone nearer to them than that...the only question that seems to remain for Pendergast to solve, is the monster even human?

While New York and its impressive museum provided a playground of fascinating riddles and exploration options, I was ready for a breather and break from the big city. This small town with it's backward appeal was the perfect solution. Hopefully it's not just me who thinks of the creepiness from Children of the Corn whenever cornfields are involved. They're used effectively in a lot of horror movies and scenes for good reason. I loved the mystery of this story,but the setting makes it impressive with the fragile and uptight innkeeper Pendergast stays with, the greasy spoon Pendergast shocks by making a steak tartar (ew, but probably wise decision considering the food options.) There's also the town's side story of trying to become the choice of genetically engineered corn. This brings up research to ponder later when the book is closed.

Pendergast is kind of the James Bond of the FBI. Although I could do without the weird laying down and solving crimes scene where he almost supernaturally travels in the past (what is that?), the quiet mannered and effective detective is still addictive. Corrie as his assistant was a nice touch since the purple haired sidekick proved to be intriguing and fun (loved the ending with her). The crime is not solved merely by chance, but by visiting town residents and settling deep into the history of the place, from an aged Indian massacre, town politics and hidden mine systems. The killings are definitely brutal, and like Pendergast I couldn't find rhyme or reason on the solution. The ending was a delight because it shows something hidden under all our noses the entire time, a twisted twist for sure that made the book even closer to achieving perfection.

Even the sheriff's office proves more interesting than you'd first thing. At first I was ready to hate the overbearing sheriff with his brutish ways and sympathize with the simple Tad, but it grew even more complex than this one-dimensional plot trope, coming okay at the end.

Definitely my favorite of the first four, Still Life with Crows is creative with its story-line, keeps you guessing, has plenty of tense moments, dishes out a perfect ending, and features plenty of Pendergast. Throw in the creepy small town setting and some well-done side characters, and call me a serious fan of this book. Unlike The Cabinet of Curiosities, the generous page count is warranted with this one.

Agent Pendergast shows up again at an unusual place....mostly due to his interest in esoteric murders. The elasticity of his relationship with the FBI is a continual topic of conversation among those who know him.

I enjoyed this book also (it's the source of one of my favorite quotes, especially if you can imagine it in Pendergast'a New Orleans accent. When asked why he always wears black he responds "I am partial to the color". Okay I said it was one of MY favorite quotes.) The weirdness of theAgent Pendergast shows up again at an unusual place....mostly due to his interest in esoteric murders. The elasticity of his relationship with the FBI is a continual topic of conversation among those who know him.

I enjoyed this book also (it's the source of one of my favorite quotes, especially if you can imagine it in Pendergast'a New Orleans accent. When asked why he always wears black he responds "I am partial to the color". Okay I said it was one of MY favorite quotes.) The weirdness of the events carries on the feeling of the books so far. I am a little disappointed in the way it gets tied up. But on the whole it doesn't really take away from the book.

By the way the reason I like the quote is that most of my clothes are black or at least dark. I to am "partial to the color". ...more

The fourth book in the series has plenty of thrills, chills and surprises but the format changes from the usual Preston/Child way of tackling this saga. The backdrop of New York City is left behind, Special Agent Pendergast takes a small "vacation" which is only a cover up for tackling yet another gruesome case, this time taking place in remote town of Medicine Creek, Kansas. Quite a change from the mysterious urban setting we see Pendergast in, his usual friends and helpers are missing as well,The fourth book in the series has plenty of thrills, chills and surprises but the format changes from the usual Preston/Child way of tackling this saga. The backdrop of New York City is left behind, Special Agent Pendergast takes a small "vacation" which is only a cover up for tackling yet another gruesome case, this time taking place in remote town of Medicine Creek, Kansas. Quite a change from the mysterious urban setting we see Pendergast in, his usual friends and helpers are missing as well, replaced with a local named Carrie, a girl whom no one understands, no one other than Pendergast of course, and the two opposites seem more alike than different in the strange farm setting. Always having a keen nose for finding trouble, Pendergast sticks out like a sore thumb in the sea of farmers and town folk. Dressed in expensive hand made wool suits and shoes, always in black, the tall and wonderfully proper agent gets on the nerves of the local police force, almost magically always at the right time in the right place to find clues and bodies which never stop popping up. When it appears that a madman is on the loose and the killings are extremely weird and macabre, each death more bizarre than the last, it doesn't take long for Pendergast to notice that something out of the ordinary is going on. Is the devil in flesh visiting the small sleepy town or is it indeed a work of a man, somehow untraceable and invisible. The mystery was interesting but the way it was being solved was even more fun, Douglas and Preston do an excellent job of breathing life into simple pages filled with words, making it read like a movie.

Cornfields can be creepy, somehow movies and books always use them to the maximum for adding the element of mystery and confusion, the chases and surprises always lead to the fields where prey and the predator play. This novel does is it brilliantly, people go in and some never come out...

What I love about this series, other than Pendergast who is a fantastic and mesmerizing character, is that the reader never knows if something supernatural is going on or if life in the story is really that weird and bizarre. Monsters, ghosts, demons, they are all possible here but sometimes it's the human evil that makes the deeds appear form out of this world. Best part is reading on and finding out which will take place in the novel and these are juicy and wonderful and always a delight to read. The only negative thing about this book was the length, somehow about a hundred pages before the end I was craving the conclusion and one part of the story kept going on and on, driving me crazy, but other than that I loved the book and will always think of it fondly. ...more

As usual high quality writing but some might feel the ending was a tad below the previous books. One always likes to have clues to the murderer before they're revealed and some might argue there were not enough but I thought there were enough once you got to a certain point in the novel. This tale takes us away from NYC to a hamlet sized town named Medicine Creek which is suffering from economic depression.

Things even get worse as locals are murdered in the cornfields amidst peculiar ritual praAs usual high quality writing but some might feel the ending was a tad below the previous books. One always likes to have clues to the murderer before they're revealed and some might argue there were not enough but I thought there were enough once you got to a certain point in the novel. This tale takes us away from NYC to a hamlet sized town named Medicine Creek which is suffering from economic depression.

Things even get worse as locals are murdered in the cornfields amidst peculiar ritual practices. Pendergast is there in fine form but most of the other active characters are new yet compelling. One of the real strengths of this novel is the focus upon the sweltering heat amidst the cornfields (you truly get a feel for the setting) and the small town folk values as their community spins out of control.

Contrary to what others have said in their reviews I found the cave finale to be fantastic and the points of view on the various locals was awesome.

I have a little crush on Aloysius Pendergast, I do believe. He's a great character; very Sherlock Holmes-esque, but rather more bizarre -- he makes Sherlock Holmes seem like a normal guy.

Anyhoo, I really enjoyed this; I thought it was a lot better than Brimstone, which is the other Pendergast novel I've read (yes, I know I'm reading them all out of order); the secondary characters were fleshed out nicely, and there was a lot of good humor as the natives of a tiny Kansas town try to figure out whI have a little crush on Aloysius Pendergast, I do believe. He's a great character; very Sherlock Holmes-esque, but rather more bizarre -- he makes Sherlock Holmes seem like a normal guy.

Anyhoo, I really enjoyed this; I thought it was a lot better than Brimstone, which is the other Pendergast novel I've read (yes, I know I'm reading them all out of order); the secondary characters were fleshed out nicely, and there was a lot of good humor as the natives of a tiny Kansas town try to figure out what to make of this FBI fellow (and vice-versa). As with Brimstone, I found the actual revelation of the villain to be a bit of a let-down -- these novels seem to suffer from the same problem that plagues a lot of horror movies, which is that once you show the monster it's just not as scary. Still, this was a great, diverting read....more

This is the best Pendergast of the series (that is opinion, mine). This is my favorite of the series. I loved the additoin of Corey Swanon. I mean, what's not to like from a Goth 18 year old girl in Poedunk Kansas (Dorthy don't even know where this place is) who, after speeding through town and getting arrested by the sherrif utters such spectacular phrases as, "you fart eating bastard!"

The story is scary, like all of the Pendergast series, the plot is complicated and well thought out. PendergaThis is the best Pendergast of the series (that is opinion, mine). This is my favorite of the series. I loved the additoin of Corey Swanon. I mean, what's not to like from a Goth 18 year old girl in Poedunk Kansas (Dorthy don't even know where this place is) who, after speeding through town and getting arrested by the sherrif utters such spectacular phrases as, "you fart eating bastard!"

The story is scary, like all of the Pendergast series, the plot is complicated and well thought out. Pendergast, though he sometimes seems to have super-human abilities, never appears superhuman. He and his friends always have difficulties. It's not until the end that this gets completely figured out anyway.

There are car chases, exciting fights in dark scary places, plot twists and... lets just say, it's a fun story in the crime/suspence thriller/WTF! genre. (I'm not sure that last "slash" is a genre but it should be.)

Love the entire series. This one is still my favorite. Pendergast comes across to me like "The Shadow" from the old and venerable D.C. Comics line.

There is some gore and people who get unpleasantly affected by ... you know... uh... "BAD THINGS MAN!" (A.K.A. Violence) which is well managed and not gratuitus in any way. If you don't like that kind of stuff, it may not be your cup of tea. The vioelnce is equal opportunity and anyone regardless of gender, ethnicity or planet/plane of origin is not excluded. Though she is young and inexperienced in fast paced world of thriller fiction Corey Swanson makes a strong, character who grows into a strong young woman by the end and turns out to be smarter than all of them...(well we kind of knew that with "Fart-eating Bastard!" right?)

Good read from a good series that really shifts gears at the third book. Their all good Halloween reads. Dark night with a flashlight, alone in the house, storm raging... muhuhahahahaaaaaa!. (cough) ... okay, you get the idea. Spooky weird, but weird in a good way. ...more

You can't beat Preston and Child for macabre mystery genre. In this book we find Special Agent Aloysius Pendergast arriving mysteriously in Medicine Creek, Kansas. A nowhere town headed nowhere, until the Kansas State University takes an interest in the town as a site to test genetically altered corn. Unfortunately a series of bizarre murders threatens that plan from ever becoming a reality. Agent Pendergast is in a race to prevent more murders while trying to keep from being run out of town byYou can't beat Preston and Child for macabre mystery genre. In this book we find Special Agent Aloysius Pendergast arriving mysteriously in Medicine Creek, Kansas. A nowhere town headed nowhere, until the Kansas State University takes an interest in the town as a site to test genetically altered corn. Unfortunately a series of bizarre murders threatens that plan from ever becoming a reality. Agent Pendergast is in a race to prevent more murders while trying to keep from being run out of town by the local sheriff. The characters in this book are colorful to say the least and everyone seems to have motives for the murders. Coming into play, are ancient Native American legends that most townspeople would rather be kept in the closet, but of course Pendergast goes digging much deeper and finds even more than he bargained for. It's a nailbiter of a book. The last 50 pages or so, will have you on the edge of your seat. I especially enjoyed the Native American lore. ...more

Seriously, IMO I did not think Pendergast should have been put to do his work in a small Kansas town, but whatever. Granted, he was there on a vacation but who the hell says they will go take their vacation in a town filled with nothing but failing stores and shitload of corn?

The whole corn subplot was very boring and quite skippable so there's no point in going through it in detail. As far as the characters go, you got some who are total dicks and you got some who, despite their persCORN!!!!!!!

Seriously, IMO I did not think Pendergast should have been put to do his work in a small Kansas town, but whatever. Granted, he was there on a vacation but who the hell says they will go take their vacation in a town filled with nothing but failing stores and shitload of corn?

The whole corn subplot was very boring and quite skippable so there's no point in going through it in detail. As far as the characters go, you got some who are total dicks and you got some who, despite their personality in their line of work, are actually good people. Than you got Pendergast, a smooth talking, pressed suit wearing SOB who apparently has no sweat glands that are put to work even in a 100 degrees kind of weather.

Like I said, the whole corn business was very boring for me and I REALLY hoped they will develop more of that Native American folklore story that was present for most of the book, but the author(s) didn't. In fact, it was explained quite easily and just abandoned like it was never important, which left me quite disappointed. Than you got the whole idea of the detective partnering up with a social outcast who is there because she knows the town and not much else. Of course, as soon as she was introduced you know something will happen to her, you just don't know when or where, the small details.

I know this was a rather boring review but this book left me a bit let down. As much as I like to read about this smartass detective, the book kind of wasted him on nothing. Than, you got a killer who I feel bad for and hate him with all my guts. STOP MESSING WITH ME!. Either make a horrible killer who has no human empathy/sympathy or don't call him a big time murderer. Don't pick both because it drives me mad to go both ways!

Average read and IMO I think Pendergast should either go on funner vacations or put him in dark urban setting. God knows money is no problem for him!...more

Good mystery in the Pendergast series. I liked the descriptions of the town and thought the characters were interesting. The murders were pretty gruesome, although the reason for it is explained in the end. Corrie, a favorite character in this series, plays a big part in the plot. Worth reading.

As much as I enjoy Special Agent Pendergast, this book was really poor. I don't think it's possible to create more boring, stereotypically unrealistic characters than Preston and Child did here.

Per usual, it's a story that involves a questionable series of murders in which Pendergast shows up, uninvited (duh!), and unwelcome. He proceeds to act erratically but with ulterior purpose. Then, some potentially supernatural forces are explored and Pendergast ties it all together nicely after apprehenAs much as I enjoy Special Agent Pendergast, this book was really poor. I don't think it's possible to create more boring, stereotypically unrealistic characters than Preston and Child did here.

Per usual, it's a story that involves a questionable series of murders in which Pendergast shows up, uninvited (duh!), and unwelcome. He proceeds to act erratically but with ulterior purpose. Then, some potentially supernatural forces are explored and Pendergast ties it all together nicely after apprehending the bad guy(s).

What I found most annoying was the authors' attempts to act like better writers than they are. All of the inner monologues and overly descriptive meanderings do little if anything to add to the story line. If you're going to add description, it cannot detract. Here's an example I had to include:

"She crept into the kitchen. The trailer had no AC and was stiflingly hot. She eased open a cupboard, took out a box of Cap'n Crunch and a bowl, and carefully filled it. She poured in milk from the refrigerator and began to eat. God, she was famished. A second bowl disappeared before she felt sated."

Seriously? Cap'N Crunch? She carefully filled the bowl with milk? Sated? Ugh. Miserable. And this isn't the worst offense, just the one that I thought to mark.

And the ending - the big finale was about 75 pages too long. We don't need you to go through the thought process of every single character. We get it - it's scary. Move the freaking story along!

All in all, as before, Preston and Child created a good hook and the over all story was good - it's just the writing that makes me want to pull my hair out. ...more

Great ending too - you've got to love a book that goes out with a bang!!! Especially when it grabbed you from the get go. This story had it all - creepy ripe cornfields, gruesome murder scene with hallmarks of a very sick mind, small town politics and characters and a local historical landmark that speaks of supernatural doings and a legend of a very old curse that may have been awakened. I mean - what more could you ask for?!

Oh - and did I mention it's in the middle of KLordy - what a book!!!

Great ending too - you've got to love a book that goes out with a bang!!! Especially when it grabbed you from the get go. This story had it all - creepy ripe cornfields, gruesome murder scene with hallmarks of a very sick mind, small town politics and characters and a local historical landmark that speaks of supernatural doings and a legend of a very old curse that may have been awakened. I mean - what more could you ask for?!

Oh - and did I mention it's in the middle of Kansas in the heart of storm season, and the brutally hot weather that usually cooks itself up into some great incredible twister weather is ripe for the occasion?

Ah, it never rains but it pours.

And what a great conclusion ..... it was all you could ask for and more. I cannot wait to carry on with Agent Pendergast and his peculiar bent on multiple murderers. Great series!...more

Different setting, different people and different type of a killer. The setting, a very small town in Kansas, is what you would expect from a place with three hundred or so people. They argue a lot, gossip and want to know everything. As in the first three books, you get the rich who want something, but the inconvenient murder is getting in their way. I like the choice of the setting. It is isolated and small.

Someone killed a man in Medicine Creek in a gruesome and what seemed to be ritualisticDifferent setting, different people and different type of a killer. The setting, a very small town in Kansas, is what you would expect from a place with three hundred or so people. They argue a lot, gossip and want to know everything. As in the first three books, you get the rich who want something, but the inconvenient murder is getting in their way. I like the choice of the setting. It is isolated and small.

Someone killed a man in Medicine Creek in a gruesome and what seemed to be ritualistic manner. While it is more than creepy to read about something in the corn fields and each death is completely different than the next, I never felt the dread like in the first book. Pendergast himself was less present than I would have liked, but a few hints about his brother and family here and there are enough to keep that aura of mystery the man has. I love the character. He is like a weirder version of Sherlock Holmes.

The same formula, but not in equal measure is used for supporting cast. He enlists a town misfit to drive him around as his assistant. Corrie is one of the characters I loved. I hope she will appear in other books. Next, it seems that Pendergast has to have a journalist in his corner, but this one doesn't have as prominent role as Smithback had. And there is an unavoidable jerk cop.

I liked the previous books more. but I wouldn't go so far to say I didn't like this. Still Life With Crows is just different. I still liked it. I wouldn't recommend this as the first Pendergast book though. I would start with Relic....more

It's not perfect but it remains one of my favorite novels of all time. Along with The Relic I consider it to be the high point of P&C's efforts, and the most fun and original of Pendergast's exploits.

Aloysius Pendergast, the independently wealthy decorated FBI Agent from the New Orleans field office, arrives in the sweltering backwater of Medicine Creek, Kansas, just after a bizarre murder scene is discovered in a cornfield just outside of town. Pendergast announces that he is "on vacation"It's not perfect but it remains one of my favorite novels of all time. Along with The Relic I consider it to be the high point of P&C's efforts, and the most fun and original of Pendergast's exploits.

Aloysius Pendergast, the independently wealthy decorated FBI Agent from the New Orleans field office, arrives in the sweltering backwater of Medicine Creek, Kansas, just after a bizarre murder scene is discovered in a cornfield just outside of town. Pendergast announces that he is "on vacation" and proceeds to hire the local teenage goth pariah, Corrie Swanson, to chauffeur him around in her jalopy, at least until his Rolls-Royce arrives! What a duo these two make and it gets hilarious. Things get even more bizarre, there is conflict with local law enforcement, and it gets to the point where you'd swear something supernatural is going on. But no, there's always a logical explanation for everything, and no one gets to those logical explanations like Special Agent Pendergast! Cleverly constructed by the conniving collaborators, the mystery could have used a couple more carefully placed clues to help the reader along with the mystery (it had me stumped), but overall a great read. It's recommended, but not necessary, to read the previous Pendergast novels before this one. ...more

This was a wonderfully tightly plotted story with a stunning twist to the conclusion that literally left me breathless - and gave me the biggest case of the creeps I have had from a book in years!

Those who have read the Pendergast novels know all about Agent Pendergast's predilection for luxury, so it is a surprise to find him showing up in a small town in Kansas to investigate an unusual death with ritualistic aspects. While folks in the town are all stirred up over it, there is an undercurrenThis was a wonderfully tightly plotted story with a stunning twist to the conclusion that literally left me breathless - and gave me the biggest case of the creeps I have had from a book in years!

Those who have read the Pendergast novels know all about Agent Pendergast's predilection for luxury, so it is a surprise to find him showing up in a small town in Kansas to investigate an unusual death with ritualistic aspects. While folks in the town are all stirred up over it, there is an undercurrent running through the higher-ups because of the possibility of a large corporation coming to set up in town - something that everyone wants a piece of, and if the murder remains unsolved, the company may decide to set up elsewhere. When Pendergast shows up, he finds a young girl who is on the outs with the officials and sets her up as his assistant, then begins his own investigation.

There are some really funny moments with Pendergast being ... well, Pendergast. He comes off as a bit of a snob at times, but he means well.

Child and Preston are master story tellers and their descriptions are amazing - I was particularly taken with their amazing depictions of the caverns during which the climactic scenes of the book took place. Don't miss this one!...more

I read this book when I was about nineteen (2006) during three really crappy days. I had no money, no coffee, and no cigarettes which makes this chick a very unpleasant person to be around. In an attempt to ignore the murderous rage I felt anytime someone said my name, I immersed myself in this book, which I found in the trash years before, and it did the trick. I wasn't focused on being hungry or the withdraw from caffeine and nicotine anymore. I was wrapped up in this twisted tale. I've neverI read this book when I was about nineteen (2006) during three really crappy days. I had no money, no coffee, and no cigarettes which makes this chick a very unpleasant person to be around. In an attempt to ignore the murderous rage I felt anytime someone said my name, I immersed myself in this book, which I found in the trash years before, and it did the trick. I wasn't focused on being hungry or the withdraw from caffeine and nicotine anymore. I was wrapped up in this twisted tale. I've never read any other book in the series. In fact, I kept forgetting the name of this book (I could remember it had something to do with crows) but now that I've found the book again with the author's name and the name of the series, I definitely want to read the others in the future. Any book that can keep me sane without coffee and cigarettes is great indeed. :)...more

During my high school years in the DC area one of my passions was caving. On one trip, we were preparing to enter a cave and I ignited my source of light, a carbide mining light -no such things as LEDs in those days - and it started to rain. Told my buddy to bring my pack and I would meet him by the pit which was about a hundred feet in and ran to the entrance to avoid getting soaked. I made my way down the passage and settled on a rock protrusion that extended out over the edge of the pit whichDuring my high school years in the DC area one of my passions was caving. On one trip, we were preparing to enter a cave and I ignited my source of light, a carbide mining light -no such things as LEDs in those days - and it started to rain. Told my buddy to bring my pack and I would meet him by the pit which was about a hundred feet in and ran to the entrance to avoid getting soaked. I made my way down the passage and settled on a rock protrusion that extended out over the edge of the pit which was probably about 50 feet deep. A moment later I heard a "thwock" and felt something bounce off my helmet. I tilted my head back and the next big blob of water fell on the flame in the lamp, extinguishing it. There I sat in total darkness with drops of water falling on my helmet like Chinese water torture. The pack that I had asked my buddy to bring held my other two mandatory sources of light so there I was hanging over a void and no place go. To this day, I can remember everything about that situation, the sounds of the dripping water, the smooth slick rock, the total blackness and the sense of the void in front of me. Despite my years of experience I must admit to being pretty frightened at the ridiculous spot I put myself in. No problem, thinks I, just wait for my buddy. But the minutes ticked by and began to feel like hours. Decided to take one more shot at reigniting the light which used a roller and flint arrangement. Dried it as best I could on my coveralls and gave it a spin. It caught! Stayed lit long enough for me to back up around two turns and see the light from the entrance and my friend headed my way with my pack.

OK, so why put you through that long winded introduction? Mainly because the description of portions of this novel that take place in a cave brought those memories in vivid detail. I've have read a lot about cave exploration but don't think I have encountered writing that can truly put one there in the terrifying fashion that Preston and Child can. A small part of the story but as one reviewer noted - "these guys can really scare the hell out of you!"

I'm not usually a fan of joint authorship but the FBI Agent Pendergast series really holds my interest. (He is on "vacation" for this case.) Plot moves along, characters are well drawn and interesting and yes, they will manage to scare you even above ground!...more

Agent Pendergast's crime-solving adventures continues in Still Life with Crows. This time, he gets away from NYC and enters a different way of life, and almost a different time period, when he sets out to investigate a grisly murder in the cornfields of Kansas. The opening scene is gruesome and unforgettable. A murdered woman is found in the middle of a cleared cornfield with arrowheads and dead birds surrounding her. The murders continue from there.

The rest of the book seems to follow in the eAgent Pendergast's crime-solving adventures continues in Still Life with Crows. This time, he gets away from NYC and enters a different way of life, and almost a different time period, when he sets out to investigate a grisly murder in the cornfields of Kansas. The opening scene is gruesome and unforgettable. A murdered woman is found in the middle of a cleared cornfield with arrowheads and dead birds surrounding her. The murders continue from there.

The rest of the book seems to follow in the established pattern of the previous novels, with scientific experiments and underground escapades. The characterizations are rich, but there have just been too many policemen to keep track of in the series. It maybe helps that most of them are disposable??? I like Pendergast as a character, but he seems more like a superhero than an FBI agent. Is there anything he can't do, or anything he doesn't know?

I'm still ambivalent about Cory. I don't believe she was very well developed - seemed like the two male authors were trying too hard to create a believable angst-ridden teenage girl, in that the description and her attitude went to the extreme. So then she became more of a stereotype than a person. It was nice to see the relationship between Cory & Pendergast unfold, however.

The ending of the book is certainly creative and unique. Definitely chilling....more

Fans of "Brimstone" will enjoy this, another exciting thriller starring FBI agent Pendergast by the writing team of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. In "Still Life With Crows", the setting is the American Heartland, where a series of gruesome killings amongst the cornfields has authorities baffled. Enter SA Pendergast, a mysterious soft-spoken agent who claims to be working in an unofficial capacity (on his vacation, no less). He soon uncovers that there is something more troubling than a seriFans of "Brimstone" will enjoy this, another exciting thriller starring FBI agent Pendergast by the writing team of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. In "Still Life With Crows", the setting is the American Heartland, where a series of gruesome killings amongst the cornfields has authorities baffled. Enter SA Pendergast, a mysterious soft-spoken agent who claims to be working in an unofficial capacity (on his vacation, no less). He soon uncovers that there is something more troubling than a serial killer in their midst. Preston and Child seem to have a hit with their Pendergast series. Well-written, suspenseful, and featuring a uniquely weird protagonist (think Fox Mulder meets Sherlock Holmes), "Still Life with Crows" would be the perfect thing to read on a chilly night, curled up on the couch, during the Halloween season....more

Instead of New York City, Pendergast is tromping around the dusty cornfields of western Kansas. Supposedly there on vacation, to help the locals investigating a gruesome killing. Without his '59 Rolls Royce at the beginning of the story, he walks from the sheriff's office to check on a room. I can imagine the 'ol lady looking out her window, and seeing this pale looking man, dressed like an undertaker, strolling down the dirt road....I'm sure she thought death was coming to knock on her door. HeInstead of New York City, Pendergast is tromping around the dusty cornfields of western Kansas. Supposedly there on vacation, to help the locals investigating a gruesome killing. Without his '59 Rolls Royce at the beginning of the story, he walks from the sheriff's office to check on a room. I can imagine the 'ol lady looking out her window, and seeing this pale looking man, dressed like an undertaker, strolling down the dirt road....I'm sure she thought death was coming to knock on her door. He's such a great character....more

Douglas Preston was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1956, and grew up in the deadly boring suburb of Wellesley. Following a distinguished career at a private nursery school--he was almost immediately expelled--he attended public schools and the Cambridge School of Weston. Notable events in his early life included the loss of a fingertip at the age of three to a bicycle; the loss of his two frDouglas Preston was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1956, and grew up in the deadly boring suburb of Wellesley. Following a distinguished career at a private nursery school--he was almost immediately expelled--he attended public schools and the Cambridge School of Weston. Notable events in his early life included the loss of a fingertip at the age of three to a bicycle; the loss of his two front teeth to his brother Richard's fist; and various broken bones, also incurred in dust-ups with Richard. (Richard went on to write The Hot Zone and The Cobra Event, which tells you all you need to know about what it was like to grow up with him as a brother.)

As they grew up, Doug, Richard, and their little brother David roamed the quiet suburbs of Wellesley, terrorizing the natives with home-made rockets and incendiary devices mail-ordered from the backs of comic books or concocted from chemistry sets. With a friend they once attempted to fly a rocket into Wellesley Square; the rocket malfunctioned and nearly killed a man mowing his lawn. They were local celebrities, often appearing in the "Police Notes" section of The Wellesley Townsman. It is a miracle they survived childhood intact.

After unaccountably being rejected by Stanford University (a pox on it), Preston attended Pomona College in Claremont, California, where he studied mathematics, biology, physics, anthropology, chemistry, geology, and astronomy before settling down to English literature. After graduating, Preston began his career at the American Museum of Natural History in New York as an editor, writer, and eventually manager of publications. (Preston also taught writing at Princeton University and was managing editor of Curator.) His eight-year stint at the Museum resulted in the non-fiction book, Dinosaurs in the Attic, edited by a rising young star at St. Martin's Press, a polymath by the name of Lincoln Child. During this period, Preston gave Child a midnight tour of the museum, and in the darkened Hall of Late Dinosaurs, under a looming T. Rex, Child turned to Preston and said: "This would make the perfect setting for a thriller!" That thriller would, of course, be Relic.

In 1986, Douglas Preston piled everything he owned into the back of a Subaru and moved from New York City to Santa Fe to write full time, following the advice of S. J. Perelman that "the dubious privilege of a freelance writer is he's given the freedom to starve anywhere." After the requisite period of penury, Preston achieved a small success with the publication of Cities of Gold, a non-fiction book about Coronado's search for the legendary Seven Cities of Cibola. To research the book, Preston and a friend retraced on horseback 1,000 miles of Coronado's route across Arizona and New Mexico, packing their supplies and sleeping under the stars--nearly killing themselves in the process. Since then he has published several more non-fiction books on the history of the American Southwest, Talking to the Ground and The Royal Road, as well as a novel entitled Jennie. In the early 1990s Preston and Child teamed up to write suspense novels; Relic was the first, followed by several others, including Riptide and Thunderhead. Relic was released as a motion picture by Paramount in 1997. Other films are under development at Hollywood studios. Preston and Child live 500 miles apart and write their books together via telephone, fax, and the Internet.

Preston and his brother Richard are currently producing a television miniseries for ABC and Mandalay Entertainment, to be aired in the spring of 2000, if all goes well, which in Hollywood is rarely the case.

Preston continues a magazine writing career by contributing regularly to The New Yorker magazine. He has also written for National Geographic, Natural History, Smithsonisan, Harper's,and Travel & Leisure,among others.

“Where are you from, Mr. Pendergast? Can't quite place the accent.”“New Orleans.”“What a coincidence! I went there for Mardi Gras once."“How nice for you. I myself have never attended.”Ludwig paused, the smile frozen on his face, wondering how to steer the conversation onto a more pertinent topic.”
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“I have found that liars in the end communicate more truth than do truth tellers.” “How’s that?” “Because truth is the safest lie.”
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